The Walrus Says

By Jim Munro

This photo of island teachers was taken in 1944 and sent to us by former Jamestowner Phyllis (Bradley) Anderson of Wilmington, Ohio. She said Miss Lewis is the first on the left of row one and Hannah Caswell is the fifth from the left in row two. Can anyone identify any of the other teachers? “Miss Lewis was my fifth grade teacher and Hannah Caswell was my mother’s best friend,” Phyllis wrote. “Love and Spirit” will be the theme and serenity will reign

at the Jamestown Community Chorus’ spring concert May 6 and 7.

The chorus is now in rehearsals at the Central Baptist Church Monday evenings at 7 p.m. and the group is seeking to expand its membership. Interested people are invited to join the choristers any rehearsal night. There are no auditions.

According to spokeswomen Marion Gomez, the theme running through the program includes songs that illustrate love, spirit, and nature. “This theme is enhanced by very eclectic madrigal selections. The madrigal form of music began in Italy and it became the model for compositions that followed in Europe,” she said.

A 17th-century madrigal along with several English madrigals will be included in the spring concerts of the chorus’ 56th season.

Sandy Paterson is the recipient of the 2005 BankNewport Employee Citizenship Award. Marion said that in keeping with the theme Music Director B.J. Whitehouse has added to the program a few selections by old favorites Brahms and Britten along with lesser known works by Hatton, Berger, Finzi, Farmer, and Morley.

Coach Chris Crawford’s eighth-grade St. Mark basketball team is on a roll.

In a summary of his season so far, the coach said, “The team struggled early, losing its first two games, but now has won three out of its last four games. The kids have learned that teams that were more disciplined but less talented can beat them. They are practicing free-throw shooting every week. Misses from the foul line cost them one game they would have won in the last second if they could have hit two free throws. They are also focusing on better shot selection inside the three-point line and working hard at passing the ball aggressively instead of dribbling.

“Chris Wright is having an outstanding first half as is Will Deffley underneath the boards where he is most effective. John Rafanelli has shown his usual toughness and has toned down his erratic outside shooting. Tom Stacom has learned to combine timely driving to the hoop with selective outside shooting. Chris Crawford and Tom Munro have also contributed significantly, with Munro holding his own often against much bigger kids underneath and Crawford usually good for four or five steals a game.

“Every kid on the St. Mark team has scored this year, including Kyle Wright, Bobby Stearns, Cory Rosa, and K.C. Barrett, who left to attend to his sick mom.

This is quite an accomplishment.” Yes it is! “Go Team!!”

*** Barney Google with the ????

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Dr. Joshua Hatch of the Jamestown Animal Clinic takes a trip down the bunny trail when he discusses another popular critter in his Pet Tip of the Week.

“This week we focus on our quiet, long-eared fuzzy friends: rabbits. Common issues seen in rabbits can be avoided with simple changes. First, make sure your rabbit is eating almost exclusively grass hay (timothy, brome, or orchard grass are good). Most people overfeed their bunnies with pelleted food and treats which the bunnies do not need. The lack of fiber and increased calories just make the bunnies fat and prone to intestinal problems. “ S e c o n d please avoid pine and cedar shavings and clay or clumping litter for your bunny (and other small mammals). The oils in those woods can cause liver damage and the clay can cause respiratory problems or blockages if eaten. The House Rabbit Society recommends shavings made from aspen, paper, or other organic materials. Please visit www.rabbit. org for more information on these topics and lots of general information about bunnies.”

A twitch of the nose and thanks to Dr. Hatch.

*** Kudos to islander Sandy Paterson who is the recipient of the 2005 BankNewport Employee Citizenship Award.

A teller supervisor/customer service representative at the bank’s Jamestown office, Sandy was recognized for her outstanding activities as an EMT member with the Jamestown Emergency Medical Services and the Jamestown Fire Department.

Sandy’s award of $250 will be shared between the two organizations in the name of BankNewport.

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We can’t think of any other island organization that has done more for Jamestown’s children of all ages and adults of all ages than the Jamestown Community Theatre. What’s your next target Councilman Schnack? Get a life!! ***

Chris, the Colts had a great year. They’ll be back.

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Emmet Noonan, 11, was the winner of the R&R Gallery’s December drawing. He was presented with a Beanie Babie “Decade.”

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Remember the item on Mo Vandal’s grandson, Nick, in the Jan. 5 column?

Patty Vandal e-mailed from Florida that Nick was ranked number one out of 1,200 midshipmen for the fall semester at the Naval Academy. He entered the USNA in June of last year.

“I bet the buttons that Mo is popping reach all the way to R.I.,” Patty said.

Kudos to Nick and the whole Vandal family.

*** The crocuses are pushing through. Must be the global warming.

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Members of the island’s Boy Scout Troop 1 hit the slopes at Ascutney Mountain in Vermont last weekend during their second annual ski trip.

The trip included lodging, lift tickets, meals on Saturday and Sunday, and tubing, skating, and use of the pool.

During the rainy Saturday, the scouts skied on an 8-inch base and spent some extra time swimming.

Scoutmaster Dave Volpe said that on Sunday the scouts accomplished the second half of their winter sports merit badge.

Bob Kinder was the first in with the correct completed lyrics from last week’s column. “If I could be with you one hour tonight. If I were free to do the things I might.”

Joan Caley was next and provided the second line, “I’m telling you true, I’d be anything but blue, if I could be with you.”

We received a late e-mail from Rochelle Carnevale who gave the correct lyric to the “Too Fat Polka,” so we have to add her to the winners list even though she said, “that was too easy.”

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Atown in the smallest state was introduced to residents of the largest state last month.

Jan Allen sent along a newspaper clipping about a Jamestown couple from her brother in Texas. It was from a December ‘30s the Dallas Morning News and was the same article that appeared in the ProJo about the Jamestown couple who had anonymously donated $8,000 in clothing and toys to 73 needy children in Providence.

Jan wrote that she had missed the original story in the ProJo, and she was surprised and pleased to see Jamestown mentioned in the Dallas paper. Referring to the news item, she said, “Santa’s Helpers want to remain anonymous. . . . God Bless this family and their kindness.”

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Doesn’t anyone see something wrong with Rhode Island entering into a private deal with Citgo and its owner, the Venezuelan despot, one of the biggest exporters of drugs into the United States and no friend to this country.

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For those of us who pop in to Page’s liquors from time to time for a romantic bottle of wine might lower the odds for a successful evening by also taking home a pair of earrings or a bracelet.

Page has formed Huntress Productions and is making silver and gold and sea glass jewelry. Islander Lorrie Foster is adding handmade glass bead pieces to the lovely mix.

In addition, Page has also introduced a new line of note cards featuring Jamestown scenes.

Prices for the earrings and bracelets start at $20.

About the price of a good bottle of wine.

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Won’t Richard Hatch ever go away? Shoo!!

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The Jamestown Memorial Post 9447, VFW, and the Arnold Zweir Post 22, American Legion, will join forces Sunday to host a Blood Drive Sunday, Jan. 22, at the PAC club from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Donors will receive a complimentary pound of Dunkin Donuts coffee.

To give blood you must be at least 17, in good health, and weigh at least 110 pounds.